The Sun. — London, England, 1809-04-17 00:00:00

t '~ • 'The Portuguese Papers to ihe 3d instant' contain a long account of the operatioes of General Ruston, in Catalonia, down to his retreat to Tarragona, on the 25th of February. The details, however, are not now interesting. The, tame Papers furnish us with the following official account of the MOVOMIIIH3 of Gen. CUZSTA :....... BADAJOZ, MARCH 22.—The General in Chief has commenicated to the Supreme Junta the oc currences 'at the bridge of Areebispo, and other parts of Spanish Extremadura, in the following dispatch :' Most Excellent Seignior, According to the repeated advices which I receiv ed some days before, that the enemy were reinforc ing themselves with the troops and artillery which they had in the environs of Toledo, to the number of 26 or 27,000 men, with intention, in conse quence of the express command of the Emperor, to pass the Tagus at Almaraz, and the bridge of Arce hi:l)o, they actually carried this design into effent at the last-mentioned bridge on the t tith instant. , In the morning of the 12th they attacked our position's .. , of Mere de Ihor and Fresnedoso, with t'2,000 men. Our resistance was obstinate and bloody; but our troops were at length compelled to give way belbie a superior force i retreating, nevertheless, in good or der to new positions, which they again defended in a manner surpassing what could have been expe&ed from raw and inexperienced troops. They finally continued their retreat in good order, to the position i of Mirabete, as they had been previously instructed " • to do us such a states of things, , where they joined iiie in the Morning of the loth. The enemy ad. , vaned in two columns, one directed its march to the bridge of Almaraz, to turn onr advanced guard, who - were occupied in defending that post against a superior force on the opposite bank. The othereo-• lunin proceeded by way of Deleitosa and Torrecillas, to take a position between Truxillo and. Mirabete, to intercept my communications aud supplies, and to attack site in the rear, whilst the force from -Al . maras, Palish% the river in boats or on rafts; should . attack me in front. In this situation, the Gentsial . commanding the advanced guard thought it necessary to fall back t o Ai h a b e t e , by which means the enemy' were left at liberty to pass the river with some light troops, and afterwards to effea the passage of their artillery. Under these circumstances, I deemed it equally prudent and necessary to evaeuate the post of Mira. bete, w hich I accoidiugly did at half past ten o'clock ; endeavouring to avoid Thu line ot march ot' the French columns, with which, however, my ad. Vance had some skirmishing during the night. We at last arrived in the sicinity, of Truxillo, whence, after giving the troops some rest, I proceeded to take the poAition which I now occupy ut Santa Cruz;. leaving tnyadvance posted at a little distance in front ot Tauxillo. The troops who were engaged evinced steadiness and bravery, and all condutted themselves to the retreat with 'subordination and good order, not the slightest dispersion hating taken place. I ex- Peal, in consequence of fresh orders. to be rein . forced by the. division -under • the Duke of Albu. querque, in which case. I shall be in a condition to oppose my ,force to that of the enemy, in order to Prevent the execution of his projects. May God preserve your Eicellency many years. (Signed) GmEonmo Da CDESTA, Arai adoltacsud to their Excellencies the President and Sup sultratrulug:ltma O a Lt h hi l S 9. P , 10/111 "* . 1 . ~,, , . ` ~: ,~' ~. ~ . . Private letterXitate, that the army tinder Sir John Craddock amounted to upwards of 22,000 men, and these troops havingadvanced against the enemy, ver y . important intellige nce may be expected by the next arrival from Lisbon. Marshal Lannes, it is said, hag the thief command of the army advancing, from . Estremadura against Portugal. His force is stated at between 40 and 60,000 men.--The fora with which Marshal Sault broke up from Orencd-against Oporto. did not exceed 10,000 men ; he was how "' follewed by several detachments,, which bad at the close of the last month augmented his army to about 22 ,000 men. Sartuat, Nissen 20.—. The Captain-General of Catalonia, Don Theodore Reditig, in a diipatch of the 27th ult. to the Central Junta, &c. informs (hem, that with the intention of realizing a most ad vantageous plan , in concert with Don Thomas de 'Veri, Rep r esentative of the Central Junta, &c. he took up a line of Post froM Martorell, through Bruch, Cepelladas, S. Magi, and Coll de Santa Christina, as far as Tarragona ; the head-quarters of the whole, under tte' command of Field Marshal Don J. B. de Castro, being established at lgdalada.; thereby covering the. Southern part of the principa litheed communicating by Vall s w ith the Northern, and confided to Lientenant-Colonels Don Ramon de Milani and Don Juan Clams the execution of a part of the euterpri z e. H e was a lso joined by Col. Don Francisco Milani, who bars obtain, so much cele brity in the present war. A general plan of attack upon, the enemy was agreed on ; but when nothing remaittecl but to fix s day that they might ia in concert, Gtaterat St. Cyr, ~van had re -concentrated his army, attacked • in great force, on the itith of February, different points °lour lefi, and compelled then) to fall back in succession to Igualada, which Gen. Castro evacuated in good order, retreating With his artillery towards Cervera. ' This movement haVing disconcerted the Captain t client's plan, he resolved tore-assemble his forces, and conduCt them to Tarragona. In execution of .-,ibis determination, which he kept a profound secret, he marchettfrom that fortress on the 20th of Fe; br narYs with only 300 horse, a battalion of Swiss, a nd six pieces , of flying' artillery; 'as the corps were on their marsh for the village of Pia, they saw the enemy o n . t h e i r right, occupied in pillaging and set ting on fire the towns of Villarodona and La Pobla. He Was joined by the troops who were retreating front Colt de Santa Piristitra; and sent orders to Bri gadier`Gen. Don 14.. de ltenzo, Vi 110 had shut himself ep with 100 men, in the. mono cry of.SantaCruz, where they had gallantly 'deft ded then sel ves for it ' two days against th e e nemy t at surrounllcd them, to force a passage the same night, and; effee his junction with them; this that Officer actitnplished, without the loss of a man,, or' any port , of his bag gage or stores. With thele force' he proceeded for Santa Coloma de Queralt, at w i litch Point, at the „ i 'llitant of etfeeting a jUnalou wiyh the troops horn 'uouttnaneu, and Santa Coloma/he had the mortiti tatiottlo, learn Abet the French had catered Vali, having held a Council of War, a retrograde move ment was resolved upon. He reached Mont blanch on the 23d froM S'anta Colonia, having previously caused the Coll de Li/\t to be occupied. A party of the enemy having made their appear ance in his rear, and speedily retreatLJ, turnit.g by the Cull de Cabrii tor Pia and Valls, the Get.eral held a Council on the 24th, which determined that they should put the army in motion, pass the Coll Ribes, or Melas, the same night, and make the best of their way for Tarragona: At five o'clock in the morning, the advance under General Castro, and one halt of the centre, had already passed Valls, leaving on their left the enemy's camp tires; but the , other half of the centre, and the rear, under Field Marshal Don Josse Joachim Marting, had not yet come up. The march proceeded with the greatest order and silence, till the General with his escort, passed a small bridge, when he was attacked with a volley of Musquetry within Ohiol shot, which for a moment occasioned some.litt le disorder and wounded . several of our men. The General on this began to ,cloae up the troops who were in his rear, and or dered those who were in. advance to halt and tall back, in, order to prevent the enemy from cutting off half the rear. Having seen the corps occupy the stations assigned them, he ordered the artillery to be stationed at three distinct points, and perceiving that the enemy were descending from the heights of Valls in several columns, he detached several parties of infantry and 801 W cavalry' to repulse,them. The unifiery on both sides having began to play, Reding, on perceiving his advance engaged, made every exer tion to maintain the advantages which they were ac quiring. All the regiments endeavouredardour to outvie each other in advancing, compelling the enemy to fall back, and even fly before them to the very heights of Valls. • He had ordered the artil lery to give over tiring, and appeared to have üb tained a vitilory; when the enemy, by receiving fresh reinicrcements, were enabled to make a more vigurdus stand ou the heights. In consequence ut this:our troops, after march ing the Miele of the night, being iocessantly ocCu• ► pied until mid'-clay, orders were given that they should concentrate; themselves on the height which they had previously occupied. The army being culleCted in this position, and the while of the bag gage, &c. being in safety, it was. thought proper to •.continue the retreat to Tarragona, in the. course of mhich, having culleeted the whole of the troops that had been dispersed, the enemy attacked our army at three different points, spreading out their line with thegreatnst ostentation, to show how numerous they were. _ - Our artillery again opened its fire, and played tip• on the enemy at a pruper, dist.snce, which was bO. well directed that their columns fell back, and ours at the sane time continued to advance ; nevertheless our troops had 00 cl.ince of safety but from their va . - lour alone. The enemy seemed to make a brisk at tack on the right, but their real and must, vigorous attack was on our left, which they at length suc ceeded in forcing, about half-past four ocluck, after a most valiant and obstinate resistance. Some of the corps mime in in pretty good order, others in small. parties, and the major part of the dispersed troops have arrived in the fortress of Tarragona, where Ge neral Reding also arrived in the night of the 25th. This was one of those turns of war in which bravery must give way to superiority of force. Our troops scarcely amounted to 10)00 men ; nevertlie less they maintained their ground, and stood the hottest • tire fur 'eleven hours in succession, without skewing the slightest sign of timidity or cowardice. General Reding adds, that our loss cannot be stated with any certainty until he shall have received the returns. The General in his dispatch makes no mention of his having received a wound, but his Majesty has been apprised of this fad by another document. His IVlajest . has therefore been anxious to make known to the public this trait of generosity, which heightens the lustre of his universally acknowledged merits and Most estimable qualities. His Majesty has at the same time the satisladiun to learn that no.serious ,consequences are apprehended from the wound.. LAW REPORT. COURT OF CHANCERY, Aril IL 14. A Petition was. presented this morning by Lady Augusta Murray, otherwise D'Ameland, against. his Royal Highness the Dulra of Sussex. It was heard in his Lordship's Chamber. Almost all the eminent Lawyers' of the Chancery'Bar were retained on one side.or,the other, viz. Sir Samuel hominy, 'Sir A. Pigott, Messrs. Richards, Fonbianque, Tro ward. Daniels, &c. Their arguments having run into length, and a great many parties being in -at tendaneo in the Court, his Lordship sent one of his officers, about twelve o'clock, into Court, to in forni them that the business which he' was engaged in would occupy the remainder of the day, and they accordingly dispersed. Lady Augusts ‘sas in attendance, with her son by his Royal .17liglinc: , 3 the Duke ut Sussex.—they were in mourning. smiTtitl ttf ARKE'F, APRIL 11. • This day's market Was amply supplied whit prime beasts, and the slew of cattle in other respeas was pretty good.; Veal and Lamb are cheaper than our last report ; Beef, Mutton, and Pork t sold at 'last prices, and the trade in general w a s sornewhatbriik. The sales in the Haymarket were : tolerably lively , Straw and Clover have got. up in price since Friday's marlset ; Hay obtained last price.—The undermen tioned, prices and numbers are an accurate state ment.; To sink the OITA per stone of Slb. Bret' 4s. Ed. to 6s. 44.—Mutton ci. ad. to 6s. 6:l.—Vral 6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d..--I'urk ) s. act. 6s. to Bd,--Lamb 7s. oil. to Ss. 4d. li ciis t s , 2,35 0 . —.5 heel, and Lambs, 16,500. —Calves, tsi.— P igs, zoo. Hay ocl. to 61. 6s. od.p—Straw 166. ad. tit al. 35. ed.—Clover 01. 1011. LO 71. y$ `6d: 6d. CORN-EXCIIANOIdi APRIL 17.••- ThitidaX the fresh arrivals of Wheat tnahc a tolerable supply, and fine samples fetch a small advance, but other qualities► at little variation ; Barley in short supply, and • about 2s. per quarter dearer ; White Pease again cheaper Beaus of each description are rather dearer; Oats are likewise in tolerable supply, and sales tl►errot are IMMO at * small datuation ; Flour at last vrices. Adatingly-Offlce,' 4prjl 1 . 5; 1809. - Captain James Lucas Yvo, of his Ailajestra Ship the Canfiance, has, with his Letter dated at Cayenne, the 9th Fehrpary_ last, transinitted to the Flononr able ,William Wellesle y Pule Copies of his Letters to Rear-Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith, detail ing his proceedings in the Expedition againstllle above Settlement. Having, in coiijunaion with the Portuguese land forces under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Manoel Marques, taken possession, on the Bth Do= camber list, of the di!itriti of Oyapok, and on the 15th of the lame month, with the Coufiattee and a Portuguese Sloop 'and Cutter, reduced that of Ap ! proaque; Capt. Yeo, together with the Lieute nant-Colonel, proceeded' to the attack of the Island of Cayenne With the Cunfiance, - two Portuguese Sloops; and some smaller Vessels, having on board five hundred anti fifty. Portuguese troops; the fol lowing is a Copy •of Captain Yees Letter , on this , subject. His Majesty's Ship Coutiance, Cayenne Harbour, - 51 R, • • wit laundry, My Past Letters to you ot the 26th ult. informed you of the arrival of the Portuguese TrOops at: Ap proaqtte. On the 4th instant it was determined by , Lieutenant-Colon'el Manuel Marques and myself to make a deSeent en the east . side of - the Island of . 'Cayenne. Accordingly all the Troops were em barked on board the small Vessels, amounting to five hundred and fifty,: aed-eighty seamee,and ma rines from the Contiatwe, and , a party of marines , from the Voador and Infante Brigs. • On the morn ing of the Oth all dropt into the mo6th of the ri ver. In the mind! , l'peoceeded with-ten canoes and about two healed and fifty men, to endeavour' to gain possession of two' batteries; - thesme, Fort Diamant, which commands the entrance of the River Mahuree; the other, Grand Cane,, com mending the great road to the town of Cayenne. The Vessels, with the remainder of the troops; I entrusted to Captain Salgado -of the Voador, with orders to 'follow me alter dusk, .anchor in the mouth of . the River Mahuree, sod wait Until I gained the beforementiotted • batteries, when, on toy making the signal agreed on, he was to enter the ' River and disembark with all possible dispatch. I reached Point Mahuree tit three o'clock next morn ing with five c anoes; the others being heavy, could nut keep up. We then landed in a bay half way between the tsvo batteries. The ,surge was so great that our boats soon went to pieces. I order- . ed Major Juaquiw Manuel Pinto,' with a detach- • mem of Portuguese troops, to proceed to the left, and take Grime Cade; while myself, accompanied by Lituteoants Mulcaster, Blyth and Read, (ot the Royal Marines) Messrs. Savory, VV'm. Taylor, Ford-. er, and Irwin proceeded to the right with a party of the Coetiance's, to take Fert Diamant, winch was soon in oar possesbion, mountieg two 24 and 0113. 1 . brass 9-poutider, nod 50 men. , I am sorry to add that Lieutenant -John Read, of the Royal Marines, a Meritorious young officer, was mortally woentied, as Mao. one ,se atilatt and live marines badly. The French Captain and Commandant with three sok diem killed, and four wounded. The Major 'had the saute success the ten. mounting two, brass 9- poueders and .40 men : two of the enemy were killed; The entrance of the river being its our pos session, the signal agreed on was made, and by noon all were disembarked. At the same tune I received information of Gen. Victor Heves having quitted Cayenne at the headof 1000 troops to dispossess us of out posts. Our foice beingtou small to he divided, and the distance between the two posts being great, and only 12 miles from Cayenne, it was determined to dismantle Fort Vietnam, and coded all'our forces at Grand Cane. I therefore left my First Lieutenant, Mulcaster, with .a party of the COII69LICOS, to perform that service, and then join me. On arriving at Grand Cane I perceived two other batteries about a. mile up the, riser, en opposite sides, end i within, half gun-shot of 'each other : the one on the right bank called Treo, on an eminence commanding the creek leading to Cayenne; the (Aber, at the optso . site side,. at the entrance of the creek leading to the house and plantation of General Viilor augues, and evidently erected -for .no other purpose than its defence. At•three o'clock I anchored the Lion and Vinganza matters abreast of them, when a smart action commenced on both sides for an hoer; when getting the enemy's metal and position . so superior to- ours, the. cutters having. only four pounders, and,• many of our men falling from the incessant shower of grape shot, I determined- to storm them, and therefore &retied Mr. Savory (the Purser) to accompony a party of -Portuguese to land at General Liggett' battery ; at the liana) . time .1 proceeding myself 'accompanied by Lieutehant lilyth, toy gig's dew, and a party of Portuguese ; troops, to that of `Teo; mid though both parties had to land at the very muzzles of the guns keep lug' up a continual tire of grape and musketry, the cool bravery ot the men sown carried them, and put the enemy to flight ; each fort mounted two brass nine-pounders and fifty men. This service was scareely'accomplished before the French -troops from Cayenne attacked the Colonel at Grand Cane. Our force then mod) dispersed, I therefore, without waiting an iustant, ordered 'every body to the boots, and proceeded to tins aid uf the Colonel, who, wuh his small tome, had withstood the enemy, and after a- smart action of three hours. they , retreated to Cayenee. At 'the saute time,' two hundred.. and titty of the enemy appeared before Fort Diamant; • but pelt:invite; Lieutenant Mulcaster prepared to receive theni, and imagining his force much greater than it was, they, on bearing the defeat of their General, followed his example. There was yet the strongest pit of this enemy's to - be. taken, which was the private house of General - Vielor•Hugues; lie had, besides the fort above-mentioned, planted before his itouse.a tield-piece and a swivel, with an hundred of his best troops. It is- situated , on the main, between two and three iles in the at the end of tie .11 ; 14!;1111dr the sane length from tbe river-; oft the right of which is a thick . Wood, and on the left the Cletik Fondle. - I have: also to re mark, that there is nothing near appertaining to Government, or for the defence of the colony. On the morning 'of the ath I proceeded, accompanied t -by Lieutenant Mulcaster, itlessrs. Savory and For der, with some seamen and niarines of the C a in- fiance, and a party . of Portuguese troops,. with a • field-piece, to take the said pest ; but as my only objets was to takethe troops prisoners,. by which . the garrison, of Cayenne would be much weakened, - - A flag of truce', to acquaint the Officer 0111110.111 ir;g, tliat my only objeet u•as to take post, ft,l which 1 had force sufficient ; and, though lose some men in taking it, there could b 4 nn dut y • as to the result ; I therefore requested, for the of liuguanity, he would not attempt to chf'6 , 4l place not tenable, but that I was tietertnitied, if 1w made wieless resistance in defending !I . priv ;It bitation, against which I gave him my honour no harm was intended, I . should consider It as :t t,,r. tress, and would level it to the ground T. e enemy's advanced guard allowed the gag of trots to approach them within a boat's length, t lies, tired two vollies at them, and retreated. I taco [wit.... but refiating it was possible this outrage w.!.; (~. mated from the igdorance of an inferior Weer, I sent Lieutenant Mu!caster a second time, whet,, ,in his approaching the house, they tired the fteiti-preetl at. him. Finding all communication that way effectual, yet wishing-to preserve the private pt-r• perty of a-General Officer, who was perimp rant and innocent ,of his Officer's coridria, .ert. one of the Gerieral's slaves to the Officer with the same message ' who returned with an answer - I hat any thing I liad to cotnthunjcate Mut r be in ; at the same instant he fired hisfield-r..ce as a to his,troops, tO;(). were in a.nbuill'On 9 nr kight, in the wand,. to fire, keeping up a Ntmcii,aild • re6ted lire from his. hc-Id-piece at the house. It was my intention in hive. advanced with my. tit iu piece; but findirg he' had toade several f o ., se .4.i n the roaa, and tlit wOO:L'being lined with tnnatt:try, not. a than of whorwu tt , could we, and the iieltt • piet4 ; .in_ front, I °Mired nor , : to tje thrown Ibi•e, when our Alen. h. cheeri, advanc;:(l. Wv.ll . . pike bayonet, t i?ak i vnerny's gun ; re treated into the 'bowie,. tend kopt up a sinnrt tire front the windows; but'on - our enivriog, x]wy Auw through the bask preinnies into wood, fi,i,,. ; they retreated. Every thing way i the ground except the habit:l6oll6 of. the As vie received information that about four !)* cited of the enemy were about to take po“escioll of Beattregard plain, on an eminence which .:unt mands the several 'roads to and from Cayvtine, it wag determined between the Lieutenani•Colottel and myself to be before-hand with the enemy, and march our whole force there (tired. We gained the situation on the enemy on.the9:b, on the 10th Lieutenant Mnlcaster and ttl Porte guese Officer (Lieutenant, Bernardo Mikillis), were;: sent into the town with a summons (No. 1.) to the • General.' In the evening these Officers returne.t, accompanied by Victor liugueie Aide-dc-Camp, re, questing an armistice for t 4 hours to arrange the Articles of, Capitulation ; this being granted ; eel hosulges'exchanged, on the 11 th the Licutenaw f Colonel and myself met the General, and partly er., ranged the Articles; a Second meeting on the: morning of the 12th tiled them, (No. 2) and on the morning of the 14th, the Poringoese Troppr. and British Seamen and Marines maretOir into Cayenne, and took possession. of the Towii the enemy, amounting to four hundred, laid cl o w n their arms on the Parade, and were inimedimely embarked on board the several Ve4sels helon,en4 tcr • the Expedition; at the same time, the M.hti.t, amounting to sit hundred, together with reei, hundred Blacks, who had been incorporated %%tkit the Regular Troops, delivered in theirarms. It.is with pleasure I oberve, that throughtaitthol Expedition the utmost unanimity has prevailed b tweets the Portuguese and British, and I have my self experienced the mess friendly intercourse with Lieutenant-Colonel Mamie! Marques. The conduit et C.:aptairt. Salgrade of theVoAdei in the post ! assigned him, was that of a zealous mid t nergetic officer, and A he) I shwa do hitn . an justice were I to withhold.my testimony of his M.- . 1 must also acknowledge with satista6tioti the services of Lieutenant Joie Pedro Schulti., - Who boa. ed the Voader's Marines, and indeed . every vidual belonging to .the , Portuguese squadron.. 'lt has always been with the highest gratification to: my feelings, that I have had to mention the 'poi 000 of the Offieers,Seamen, and Marines cat tied Ship I have the honour tp CoMinand, but dur;tig the whole course of my service I have, never wit nessed such persevering resolution as they have oi.o. played from the commencement' of the campaign i s the redu6tion of Cayenne. . . To my First Lietttenant Mr. William Howe enster.l feel Myself pr'inci'pally indebted for th ~ e 4 able support I have received trotn htm though it was no more than I expetied tcu,i, oft Officer of his known merit in the service. Lieutenant Samuel Blyth continued his ext..;;‘) , ,i, notwithstanding his wounds, and the assiit i;,(0 deriVed from his ttaire . int Npidity can never be for gotten. • I 'must , Ihere pay a tribute to the memory Ail' : I very zealous and gallant, young Officer, lhe Lieutenant Join Read, of the Royal Marines. condua was always exemplary, and whenever we landed, his exertions.were most strenuous; Hti'*.as mortalty wounded, as before obsetived, in loaduig the lklarines into Fort Namara. •• His memory writ long be cherished by his brother officers. To Mr. - Thomas Savory (the Purser), Who hits Made himself retuaibbly useful on vtuiout shins, and who, from toy having so few on ha detached a service as this hag been, 'WAS et' OW greatest utility to me, I feel myself much iudetp -O. Mr. JaMes /Argue (Master's-mate),,. to wheio I gave charge of the gun-boat No. I, con(uct.;-d I:‘ r much to my satisfaction and James Thompson (Gunner's•tuate), who had charge of the, gtiti-t) 'at No. 2; is entitled' to an equal share of commend:- V tion. • _ - To Messrs, William Taylor' (carpenter) ()two Fortier, and David Irvin, Midshipmen, Mr. Tfith“ , l Si'voter, Assistant-Surgeon, who gave. partialiO: tention to the wounded, my warmest thanks are due. It is butjust that I should take notice of thS exertions of Mr. J. Acts' (adin) Master,, who ho passerl fur Lieutenant, whom sett in chart. of th Ship, and who proved himself worthy of the confidence reposed in hitu. The Tome Frolic :1 frigate appeared in the offing an the WO, with a reinforcement for the garrison ; though with ertly Englishmen and 20 negroe44, and no other orfi ebrs than two young Gentlemen, Messrs. Cietw r g. ;; . 'Yea and Edward Bryant,' be contrived by hi s s h,i l „l mantzuvres to drive her °tithe coot. As to the Seamen and Marines, all .praise i-ar, bestow : falls short Of their merit; trout tilt! 15. i, December they never slept in their beck; the v,e.% , •